MICHAEL OLIVER IS 'REFEREE OF THE YEAR' SAYS NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST

                                                             

MICHAEL Oliver is the Referee of The Year, says columnist Keith Hackett, himself a former outstanding official,  in today's edition of The Daily Telegraph.

Still only 33, the Northumberland official has constantly impressed  since taking his first Premier League match - Birmingham v Blackburn - on August 21, 2010.

Curiously, the last three matches for which he has been in the middle have all ended 5-1 - Cardiff v Man U, Burnley v Everton and and Liverpool v Arsenal.

On Wednesday (January 2) he will be Fourth Official for the match between Huddersfield and Burnley.

He will also be Fourth Official when Newport County host Leicester City in the FA Cup on Sunday.